学个词 Learn a Word-VOA英语教学 3174 dire

今天我们要学的词是 dire¹. dire is spelled d-i-r-e, dire.

Dire 是非常严峻的、极为令人担忧的意思，Jack Ma, the co-founder of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and one of China's richest men, gave a dire warning that the escalating² trade war with the U.S. is going to be severe and long-lasting，阿里巴巴集团的共同创始人和中国首富马云发出一个可怕的警告说，与美国日趋升级的贸易战将会是严重而旷日持久的。常用短语dire straits 是指困境，Turkey's once bustling³ shopping malls are in dire straits amid currency woes，土耳其一度繁华的购物中心因货币贬值而陷入困境。
 

1 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

2 escalating   

v.（使）逐步升级( escalate的现在分词 )；（使）逐步扩大；（使）更高；（使）更大

参考例句：

• The cost of living is escalating. 生活费用在迅速上涨。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cost of living is escalating in the country. 这个国家的生活费用在上涨。 来自辞典例句

3 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。